The Pogues @ Showbox, Seattle - 17&18 Oct 2007

[fluke]

Woow, that is a nice story! It makes me feel kinda sad I've missed it and longing to see it soon again

[Sportin' Life]

I went to the Wednesday show and it was absolutely as brilliant as everyone described. Quite possibly the best music I have ever heard.

Oh and if anyone was actually interested, as was the plan I became engaged during Rainy Night in Soho. I'm not one given to being overly sentimental, but that was as of yet probably one of the best moments of my life. I suppose you band members that read this forum know that you make real meaningful positive moments that touch the very souls of your audience....but there it is reiterated and explicit.

Mere ticket prices and applause is not enough for people who give so much to life.

Congratulations!

And thanks!

Thanks. And of course you are welcome to come to Helena, Montana next May 10 for the reception (which will be briefly interupted by a short unpious ceremony) if ye will.

Your absence was the only glitch of the otherwise perfect evening. Hope this finds you well.

[neilinseattle]

Sorry for the delay in posting, but it has been a wild couple of days. I'm finally back in Portland and just put the wee ones to bed.

I departed the office around 1pm. I had originally intended to drive directly downtown to the bar, but decided about halfway to Seattle that the best course of action was to park the car near my friend's house in Greenwood and bus it down to the bar, and cab it home after the show. Considering how things developed, it turned out to be the best decision of the night.

I arrived at the Owl n Thistle around 530pm and my friend Paul and I sat down next to a trio obviously headed for the show. We introduced ourselves and it was all downhill from there. Before I knew it we were surrounded by the Canadian invasion. Mike, Janine, Ian, LowD and his wife. Cheers, lads and lassies! Later the crew from Portland arrived led by runbmg. By 730 in the evening every bastard there was pisky -- the whole bar was singing football songs -- at least I think that's what people were singing.

Unfortunately CdnSteve and KathleenwithaK were in another part of the bar and I didn't get to talk to them much. But thank you for setting them straight with the music, Kathleen! I did get to see Steve after the show the next night. He was standing in the middle of the empty venue floor with a huge grin on his face and one of the copies of the set list in his hand!

BTW--To all those people at the bar who I told the concert venue was a short walk down the street from the bar -- I'm sorry. I was drunk and didn't know what the hell I was talking about. At least we didn't have to scale any moutains like we did on the walk down to the Fillmore last year.

The first show was brilliant. But I woke up the next morning with no voice whatsoever, and I have not yet regained it. Made for a frustrating day and night for the second show, as I was generously granted the opportunity to meet and speak with my heroes after the show, but I couldn't utter a sound! Probably left the impression of being either painfully shy or a just a prick, but I was just frustratingly mute yet happy to be in the presence of such great people.

I think my wife likes my new found muteness, however. She joined me for the second show (her first Pogues concert) and scored us some seats overlooking the stage. I needed to take it easy after the night before. Guess I am getting old.

Thanks again to the Pogues for making it all possible. It was a wonderful time and it was great to meet so many wonderful people at the bar and at the show. With two small kids, I don't get out much lately.

And I must say, Canadians know how to do one more thing better than Americans -- relax and have a good time!

PS--Let it be said, Mr. Chevron that many a pint was raised in your honor at the Owl n Thistle in Seattle, and you were, and remain, in our thoughts!

[Low D]

And I must say, Canadians know how to do one more thing better than Americans -- relax and have a good time!

Well, glad we set you straight on that mark. Great fish & chips at the Owl, and the service was slow enough that it stopped me from getting too drunk before the show. Not much to add to everybody else's impressions, except that Spider is better at beer-tray-head-smashing than Shane, who managed to bend it around his head in one go. As for crowd surfing, what was up with the dork surfing during Kitty? I mean, do as you please & all, but was he listening to the tunes or just having a workout? Hearing Kitty & Greenland made my night, as RRFM was my first Pogues album, and i've been giving it a listen lots lately since getting the re-master. Rainy Night is still stuck in my head, alternating with Thousands, but since i always think of Phillip singing it (a la Bringing It All Back Home), i'm not sure i missed it, exactly, since it wouldn't have been him singing. It's that growl in "and we raised a glass..." that i love so much (as well as the the eintire song, of course).

Oh yeah, it was funny seeing Shane get shoved off the stage so the band could play an instrumental (Repeal...)

All said, a great show. The looseness of the starts didn't take away any enjoyment, 'cause it looked like you all were having fun up on stage. If i had one dissapointment, it was that Sick Bed didn't seem to quite get there, but one song out of 20+ is hard to complain about.

Hey, the lawyer who works on Native law sittin' next to Darcie & I at the Owl, i don't think he's on here but his friend is (was that you, Neil? Names are all, um, a little fuzzy). Anyway, if you read this, friend, pass your lawyer friend my email. He & family are coming to Vancouver and we'd be happy to visit with our kids too if he's looking for company or a guide at all.

Cheers, all!

[firehazard]

Oh and if anyone was actually interested, as was the plan I became engaged during Rainy Night in Soho.

Many congrats, Sportin' Life and Fiancee!

And thanks to all for your gig reports. Especially Mr F. Hoping we may be treated to another series of Bloguemahone sometime soon.

[Zuzana]

Thanks for the reports!
Here's one more fan review and some more photos.

[Guest]

Here's a good account of the first night in Seattle:

http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/10/ ... ht_in_sodo

[philipchevron]

Here's a good account of the first night in Seattle:

http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/10/ ... ht_in_sodo

See how nice these people can write when they're not drunk? Someday, someone will write an on-the-money piece about the Pogues and "sentimentality", though not quite yet. This is a good starting point. Traditionally, sentimentality is not a Bad Word in Irish culture. It is understood as a real human resource, expressed and celebrated but not wallowed in, and always immediately contrasted with a Devil-May-Care moment of equivalent force. Perhaps what allows the Pogues to bring it honestly into what we do is we're such a bunch of fuckin' cynics at heart, as surprised as anyone else to find ourselves ambushed by such uncool and - the unenlightened would argue - cheap emotion.

One of the greatest moments of my musical life was the first New York show after Shane's knee trouble in Boston last March. It came after "Rainy Night In Soho" when the entire audience gave us what can only be described as an ovation. They were all on their feet anyway, so it was more than just the usual mutual celebration of life and love shared between audience and band at a Pogues show. The ovation was directed at Shane, at the Pogues, but more than that, at the common human capacity to feel joy, pain, sorrow, happiness, elation and grief and still survive to tell the tale, something the Pogues seem to be quite good at, especially after 25 years of experience. It's OK to choke up, to shed a tear or two, to hug the guy next to you, because we're HERE, goddamit. Where better for this to happen than New York, a city of survivors and governed, more than anywhere, by the dual forces of sentimentality and hardnosed ambition. The writer is right about conflict, though I prefer to think of it as ambiguity.

[rumsodomyandthelash]

Here's a good account of the first night in Seattle:

http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/10/ ... ht_in_sodo

See how nice these people can write when they're not drunk? Someday, someone will write an on-the-money piece about the Pogues and "sentimentality", though not quite yet. This is a good starting point. Traditionally, sentimentality is not a Bad Word in Irish culture. It is understood as a real human resource, expressed and celebrated but not wallowed in, and always immediately contrasted with a Devil-May-Care moment of equivalent force. Perhaps what allows the Pogues to bring it honestly into what we do is we're such a bunch of fuckin' cynics at heart, as surprised as anyone else to find ourselves ambushed by such uncool and - the unenlightened would argue - cheap emotion.

One of the greatest moments of my musical life was the first New York show after Shane's knee trouble in Boston last March. It came after "Rainy Night In Soho" when the entire audience gave us what can only be described as an ovation. They were all on their feet anyway, so it was more than just the usual mutual celebration of life and love shared between audience and band at a Pogues show. The ovation was directed at Shane, at the Pogues, but more than that, at the common human capacity to feel joy, pain, sorrow, happiness, elation and grief and still survive to tell the tale, something the Pogues seem to be quite good at, especially after 25 years of experience. It's OK to choke up, to shed a tear or two, to hug the guy next to you, because we're HERE, goddamit. Where better for this to happen than New York, a city of survivors and governed, more than anywhere, by the dual forces of sentimentality and hardnosed ambition. The writer is right about conflict, though I prefer to think of it as ambiguity.

Mr c you are a part of the greatest band of i have ever had the pleasure of , 25 years has gone in a flash and i've gotta say each gig is allways special, i can't express in words how happy Pogues songs have made me feel, one things for sure when it finally does come to end my world will change forever but untill then............ heres to the next how ever many years

[neilinseattle]

I almost forgot -- Anyone else catch what seemed to be a tribute to Jimi Hendrix at the end of Fiesta at the second show? Spider taking over bass from Darryl and he and the new lad creating some serious lingering feedback with the amp to end the show?

Darryl looked completely lost on Spider's whistle......

Low D, he's an old classmate of my buddy Paul. I'll check with Paul to see if I can get him in touch with you.

[KathleenwithaK]

Neil? Kathleen? Cdn Steve? Hello?

OK, OK...just getting to a computer now (sorry).

Thanks so much for that Kathleen! Aside from our accordion slinging friend's always entertaining writings, with unique insights, yours has been the most enjoyable read thus far on the tour.

I wonder what the No Pitty guy was meaning to relate?

Thanks E5, I try to temper my postings because I am #1, a sentimental old fool, #2 given to hyperbole #3, write more about how I feel at a show than, say, posting a set list or criticizing a musical misstep.

I am...both a Pisces and a middle child (haha, joking here), but as I tell my students, "It is a poor craftsman who blames his tools"

[KathleenwithaK]

I went to the Wednesday show and it was absolutely as brilliant as everyone described. Quite possibly the best music I have ever heard.

Oh and if anyone was actually interested, as was the plan I became engaged during Rainy Night in Soho. I'm not one given to being overly sentimental, but that was as of yet probably one of the best moments of my life. I suppose you band members that read this forum know that you make real meaningful positive moments that touch the very souls of your audience....but there it is reiterated and explicit.

Mere ticket prices and applause is not enough for people who give so much to life.

Great! When they played "Sickbed" I was worried that you might jump the gun thinking that the real deal wasn't coming. Good job on the patience.

[Low D]

Speaking of sentimentality, i forgot to mention that Pair of Brown Eyes was also stunningly beautiful. I remember seeing Shane & the Popes in '95 in Toronto. Not a very good show, Shane couldn't keep up & the sound was terrible, but when they hit that song, it all came together for three minutes. But to hear it with the Pogues, and with Shane in fine form...

[John Dolan]

I'm not as insightful as you'all. I dug Thursday. San Francisco last Fall, Seattle Thursday, San Diego Friday to come.
Again, everyone above said it right.
Philip, a fucking pleasure to read your thoughts.
Thursday night brought a little romance for my wife and I. She has lovely brown eyes.
Hey other Portlanders! Hello.
Fitzpatrick

[Barnacle Brian]

Sorry for the delay in posting, but it has been a wild couple of days. I'm finally back in Portland and just put the wee ones to bed.

I departed the office around 1pm. I had originally intended to drive directly downtown to the bar, but decided about halfway to Seattle that the best course of action was to park the car near my friend's house in Greenwood and bus it down to the bar, and cab it home after the show. Considering how things developed, it turned out to be the best decision of the night.

I arrived at the Owl n Thistle around 530pm and my friend Paul and I sat down next to a trio obviously headed for the show. We introduced ourselves and it was all downhill from there. Before I knew it we were surrounded by the Canadian invasion. Mike, Janine, Ian, LowD and his wife. Cheers, lads and lassies! Later the crew from Portland arrived led by runbmg. By 730 in the evening every bastard there was pisky -- the whole bar was singing football songs -- at least I think that's what people were singing.

Unfortunately CdnSteve and KathleenwithaK were in another part of the bar and I didn't get to talk to them much. But thank you for setting them straight with the music, Kathleen! I did get to see Steve after the show the next night. He was standing in the middle of the empty venue floor with a huge grin on his face and one of the copies of the set list in his hand!

BTW--To all those people at the bar who I told the concert venue was a short walk down the street from the bar -- I'm sorry. I was drunk and didn't know what the hell I was talking about. At least we didn't have to scale any moutains like we did on the walk down to the Fillmore last year.

The first show was brilliant. But I woke up the next morning with no voice whatsoever, and I have not yet regained it. Made for a frustrating day and night for the second show, as I was generously granted the opportunity to meet and speak with my heroes after the show, but I couldn't utter a sound! Probably left the impression of being either painfully shy or a just a prick, but I was just frustratingly mute yet happy to be in the presence of such great people.

I think my wife likes my new found muteness, however. She joined me for the second show (her first Pogues concert) and scored us some seats overlooking the stage. I needed to take it easy after the night before. Guess I am getting old.

Thanks again to the Pogues for making it all possible. It was a wonderful time and it was great to meet so many wonderful people at the bar and at the show. With two small kids, I don't get out much lately.

And I must say, Canadians know how to do one more thing better than Americans -- relax and have a good time!

PS--Let it be said, Mr. Chevron that many a pint was raised in your honor at the Owl n Thistle in Seattle, and you were, and remain, in our thoughts!

Cheers! I didn't realize at the time you were neilinseattle! What a great night. The funny thing was I even knew the Canadians (McGillicuddys) sitting right next to you via Shite'n'Onions! What a small world...

And yes they were football songs. The Portland Timbers!

Here's to KMRIA in 2 months eh?